Cysylltiad Gogledd Cymru

Nid safbwyntiau’r Arolygiaeth Gynllunio yw’r rhai a fynegir ar y dudalen hon. Yr hyn a ddangosir yma yw cynnwys a gyflwynwyd i’r Arolygiaeth Gynllunio gan y cyhoedd a phartïon eraill â buddiant, sy’n rhoi eu barn ynglŷn â’r cynnig hwn.

Cysylltiad Gogledd Cymru

Derbyniwyd 23/11/2018
Gan North Wales Fire & Rescue Service

Sylw

The volume of documentation submitted, by National Grid, to support the DCO application is extensive in nature but lacks any detail or clarity on the issues that have been raised by North Wales Fire & Rescue Service (NWFRS) throughout the pre-consultation stages. NWFRS is submitting a considered representation of the key issues which it believes will impact upon the services it delivers to the communities of North Wales.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority (“the Authority”)(NWFRA) is required to make provision to meet “normal” requirements in the area it serves (Part 2 Section 7(1)(2), 8(1)(2) of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004). In addition to this the Authority must also comply with the requirements of The Well-being of Future Generation (Wales) Act 2015. In discharging its duties the Authority must do so in a context of severe medium to long-term pressures on public finances.

The functions of the Authority are discharged by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (“the Service”)(NWFRS). The Service understands that it is Welsh Government’s view that Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, such as the North Wales Connection, should not have any adverse impact on the public purse.

On the basis of current available information, NWFRS believes that the main works involved in the North Wales Connection development go beyond the “normal” requirements of its statutory obligations and raises risks that will place additional demands on the Service. The Service is of the opinion that the scale is such that, unless the developer provides additional funding and/or mitigation, that there will be a cost implication passed on to the Council Tax payer.

The identified risks include:

Operational Response
• An increase in traffic including large vehicles that will have an adverse impact on response times and mobilisation of resources to incidents across North Wales.
• An increase in the number of incidents attended as a direct result of the development.
• Additional risks that NWFRS personnel may require training for, such as rescue from height and incidents associated with working underground.

Staffing

• A significant impact on time and resources in order to provide liaison with National Grid and respond appropriately to the consultation process and beyond.

Organisation

• An increase in fire safety audit/enforcement activity primarily associated with workforce accommodation which includes the use of camping and caravan sites.
• An increase in prevention work with the existing community, some of whom may be displaced in favour of construction workers, and the migrant workforce.
• Communication systems currently include Airwave and mobile telephony. This is due to be replaced by a new system and assurance will be required that this will include coverage for the site both during construction and operation.

Operational response, protection and prevention activities are the key focus for the Service. The development will inevitably have an impact on the Service which, without the provision of additional resources, will impact on the current service to all sectors of the community and/or have a financial impact.